Kafir-corn header



Dec. l1, 1928. 1,694,852

w. A. HARRELL KAFIR CORN HEADER Aug. 28, 2 Sheets-'Sheet l l? u g l n sv j u \77 70 2 3' /9 l- EL /4 m /7 f l /f Af f6 #L M if De@ 11.19211.v1,694,852

Y w. A. -HARRELL l yKAFIR conn HEADER Filed Aug. 28. 1925 2sheets-511691 2 Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES WALTER A. HARRELL, OF RICHLAND, KANSAS.

xAFrR-conn HEADER.

Application filed August 28, 1925. Serial No. 53,104.

This invention relates to an improved machine for farm use which isadapted more particularly for topping or heading Kaiir corn and similargrains. l

An important object is to provide a structure of this kind which may bemounted upon a, conventional rack wagon, the strucpower to be derivedfrom one of the ground engaging wheelsy of said wagon. f

Another object is to provide a structure of this kind including avertical driven shaft upon which superimposed disks are mounted, thelower disk carrying cutting knives and the upper disk carryingcooperating beaters, whereby to permit the knives to cut the heads offof the stalks, after which the beater elements come into play forknocking the severed heads onto a' collecting platform.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:-'

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 4 is an inside elevation on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1designates a platform of what is known as a rack wagon, and 2 designatesone of the rear ground engaging wheels of this wagon. The presentimprovements is in the form of an attachment which is connected with theplatform 1. The attachment comprises a pair of hangers 3. A horizontalshaft 4 is journaled in appropriate bearings in these hangers and isprovided on its outer end with a relatively large beveled gear 5 whichis in mesh with a beveled inion 6, this pinion beingY on a verticaldriven shaft 7. It will be noted from Figure 2 that a horizontal strap 8is connected with the intermediate bottom .portions of the two hangersand extends over and is equipped with a bearing in which the shaft 7 ismounted for rotation. Adjacent these details is a horizontal rotatablea'Xle 9'of the wagon. 4There is a sprocket mounted on this axle and asprocket chain f the medium of the chain and socket connec 'tion isimpartedto the shaft 1. `The shaft ture being suchas to permittheoperating` 4 drives the vertical shaft 7 through the medium of theintermeshing gears 5 and 6. Any number` of suitably designed braces areemployed to increase the rigidity of structure.v

It will be noted that the `shaft 7 extends `a considerable distanceabove the platform 1. It is upon this extended portion that the headingmeans is mounted. This means comprises upper and lower disks 12 and 13which are mounted to rotate with the Vertical shaft. The upper disk isprovided with outstanding beater fingers 14C arranged .at

circumferentially spaced points while the.

lower diskis provided with cutting blades or knives 15.v From vthe topplan view as shown in Figure 3 it will be seen that the cutting bladesare yslightly in advance ofl i the beating fingers, this being desirable.for accomplishing the successive action of the knives and beaters.Associated withv these lparts is a frame 16 having acentral guide 17vertically slidable on the shaft 7. This frame constitutes a 'mounting'for a substantially arcuate metal shield 18 which partially encloses thecutting means to act as a guard. From Figure 1 it will be noted thatoneleg 19 of the frame is comparatively long and extends downwardly througha relatively stationary guide bracket 20 whereby to permit the unit made'up of the guard, frame and disks to be lifted bodily in a verticaldirection. To accomplish this I provide arv hand lever 21 which ispivotally mounted upon the platform. The inner end ofthe lever is formedwith a collar 22 surrounding the shaft 7 beneath the vertically movableunit. By rocking the outer end of the lever downwardly, this unit can belifted up on the shaft to dispose the cutting and beating means in theproper horizontal plane to accommodate corn stalks of different heights.There is a toothed segment or rack 23 on the platform and a pawl ismounted on the lever for cooperation therewith. In this way the .levermay be locked in a different position to which it is moved to vhold thevertically ais movable unit in the plane to which it has been adjusted.At this time I would direct attention to F igul'e 3 wherein it will beseen that this unit is provided with cooperating guides 25 serving tofeed the stalks into the cutting means. One of these guides carries aninclined channel-shaped chute 26 which is disposed over the platform.This chute is arranged to cooperate with the rotary beater in a mannerto be hereinafter de-y scribed.

It is yet to be pointed out that an appropriate clutch 27 (see Figure 2)is associated with the shaft 4 and an operating lever 28 is provided foractuating the same. More over a coiled spring 29 (see Figure 1) isconnected tothe vertically movable unit at one end and to one of thehangers 3 at its opposite end for pulling the unit downward y when thelever 2l is allowed to resume its up ermost position.

n the operation of the improved machine it will be seen that as thewagon travels down the field, the cutting and beating means will beoperated from the ground wheel 2 through the chain and sprocketconnection, gearing etc. Of coursethis is controlled by the operation ofthe clutch 27 As before intimated the element or unit made up of theshield cutting and beating means is raised to the proper horizontalplane to insure alignment of the cutting means with the heads of thestalks. Said heads are severed by the cutting means, and then thebeating elements come into engagement there with and knock these severedheads into the chute 26, after which they fall on to the platform 1 tobe bundled or otherwise collected.

I t is believed that by considerino the description in connection withthe rawings persons skilled in the art to which the invention relatesmay be able to attain a clear understanding of the same. Therefore amore lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

lVhile the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within theheld of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim :-d

In a structure of the class described,l in combination, a pair of spacedparallel hangers, a horizontal shaft journaled in bearings in saidhangers, a rotatable wheel axle, an operating connection between theaxle and shaft, a vertically disposed driven shaft, an operatingconnection between the vertical shaft and the horizontal shaft', a unitslidable upon said shaft, said unit comprising a rectangular framehaving a depending leg, a guide through which said leg extends, a shieldmounted upon said frame, a cutter embodying a disk carrying cuttingknives, a beater embodying a disk carrying beating lingers, a chutelocated for cooperation` with `YVALT'ER A. HARRELL.

